Supersonic bomber 160 speed. Revival of the "White Swan": how the Russian combat bomber was updated

To escort two Russian Tu-160 bombers that were heading towards English airspace. The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense later announced that Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft did not cross the country's border during the incident.

The Tu-160 is the largest and most powerful supersonic aircraft with variable wing geometry in the history of military aviation. This aircraft can deliver up to 40,000 kg of bombs and cruise missiles to the east coast of North America in just 5 hours.

After which the bomber can return back to its “home” airport with one in-flight refueling. At the same time, the flight for the crew will take place in the most comfortable conditions: on board there is a toilet, a kitchen with a cupboard for heating food, as well as a folding berth for rest.

See the AiF infographic.ru, which represents the legendary bomber.

Child of the arms race

In the 1960s, the USSR actively developed strategic missile weapons. The country has acquired the most advanced nuclear missile deterrence system, and in the field of strategic aviation, as a result of this “distortion,” a serious crisis has emerged. By that time, the subsonic bombers Tu-95 and M-4 were completely unsuitable for breaking through the US air defense. As a result, the Soviet government issued a directive in 1967 as soon as possible to create a fundamentally new strategic aircraft that could compete with the supersonic B-1 Lancer being developed by the Americans.

Undercover battles

There is a joke in aviation: “ white swan“Nobody ever developed it, it somehow hatched on its own.” In fact, of course, the best Soviet engineers worked on the Tu-160 project, but this unique aircraft was created, indeed, under very strange circumstances.

The fact is that initially only specialists from the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau were assigned to work on the supersonic bomber project, and for some reason such a giant of design thought as the Tupolev Design Bureau remained on the sidelines. Some explain this choice by the heavy workload of this bureau at that time, others claim that the Soviet leadership simply did not really like Andrey Tupolev, who was always ready to very firmly defend his own opinion.

By the beginning of the 70s, the developers participating in the competition presented their projects. Sukhoi presented the T-4MS, which generally satisfied the stated characteristics, but was an overly expensive project - the body of the bomber was supposed to be made of titanium. Myasishchev presented the more budget M-18.

At that time, the M-18 seemed to win the competition, but the Myasishchev Design Bureau was not allowed to implement its project. The Soviet government, unexpectedly for the entire aircraft industry, decides to completely remove this bureau from participation in the creation of a supersonic aircraft. The reasons for this turn are still debated. It was only officially reported that the Myasishchev Design Bureau at that time did not have sufficient resources to implement such a large-scale project.

It would seem that now the development of a supersonic bomber should definitely have gone to the Sukhoi Design Bureau, but no. For some also not the most obvious reason, the authorities decided that the new aircraft should be built by the Tupolev Design Bureau, and Sukhoi specialists were advised to throw all their efforts into creating the Su-27 multi-role fighter.

As a result, all the papers on both the M-18 and T-4MS ended up in the Tupolev Design Bureau. Taking the Myasishchev Design Bureau project as a basis, the bureau created the legendary TU-160, which pilots nicknamed the “White Swan” for its graceful appearance and “flapping” wings.

Swept advantage

The wing of the Tu-160 has a variable sweep. The aircraft takes off and lands with its wings spread. Most of the flight is usually carried out at a speed of 900 km/h with almost straight wings, and the bomber reaches “supersonic” speed having already folded them. This solution allows you to minimize aerodynamic drag and achieve the highest speed.

Yeltsin despite

Before the collapse of the USSR, 34 supersonic bombers were created, after the collapse on the territory of the newly formed Russian Federation only six Tu-160s remained. Most of the cars, 19 units, ended up in Ukraine.

Long-range strategic aviation absolutely did not fit into the defensive nuclear-free doctrine of Ukraine. Therefore, the young republic began to destroy bombers that were expensive to maintain. The liquidation took place using funds allocated by the Americans under the Nunn-Lugar program.

The Tu-160 was not treated much better in Russia at that time. The president Boris Yeltsin ordered to stop serial production of supersonic bombers. Yeltsin then spoke out in the spirit that after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact organization, no one needed strategic aviation anymore.

The situation for the Tu-160 began to change for the better only in the late 90s. By that time, Ukraine, having spent about $2.5 million, had destroyed only two bombers. Another 9 cars were rendered unusable. In 1999, Ukraine, violating the agreements concluded with the Americans, arbitrarily stopped the process of eliminating aircraft and transferred to Russia 8 serviceable Tu-160s to write off part of the debt for gas.

When collecting Tu-160s in all countries of the former USSR, 16 Tu-160 units were in service with the Russian Air Force. And since the mid-2000s, these machines no longer rust at airfields, but make regular flights. So, in 2006, the ex-commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Air Force Igor Khvorov reported that during the exercise, a group of Tu-160s entered US airspace for some time and went unnoticed.

In 2015, the Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu announced plans to resume serial production of the Tu-160, which is due to begin in 2023. The question of exactly how many new supersonic bombers the Russian Aerospace Forces need is still at the approval stage. It is only reported that the Tu-160 in the M2 version will combine the latest innovations in avionics, which will significantly increase the efficiency of the aircraft.

First baptism of fire

In 2015, the Tu-160, which had never previously participated in military conflicts, received its first combat use. Bombers from the Mediterranean and Caspian seas began to strike with Kh-555 and Kh-101 cruise missiles at the most important targets of the Islamic State terrorists in Syria.

As a result of a massive bomber attack, it was possible to destroy control points of illegal armed groups in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo. Also, cruise missile strikes blew up ammunition depots, militant training camps and logistics points involved in the illegal export of oil to the countries of the Middle East.

Nunn-Lugar program- the unofficial name of the American Cooperative Threat Reduction Program ) , which was developed by Senators Samuel Nunn and Richard Lugar. This initiative has been implemented by the United States since December 12, 1991 in relation to Russia and the CIS countries. One of the main goals is the destruction “in the interests of security” of military equipment, as well as nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction.

The terrorist group “Islamic State” is banned in Russia.

Once upon a time, the famous aircraft designer Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev said that only beautiful planes fly well. The strategic supersonic bomber Tu-160 was created as if specifically to confirm these winged words. Almost immediately, this aircraft received the nickname “White Swan” among pilots, which soon became almost the official name of this unique aircraft.

The Tu-160 “White Swan” (Blackjack according to NATO codification) was created at the turn of the 70-80s of the last century, at the height of the Cold War. This is a strategic supersonic missile carrier with variable wing geometry, capable of overcoming air defense lines at ultra-low altitudes. The creation of these aircraft was a response to the American AMSA program, within the framework of which the no less famous “strategist” B-1 Lancer was built. And, it should be noted that the answer from the Soviet designers was simply wonderful. The speed of the Tu-160 is one and a half times higher than that of its American counterpart, and its flight range and combat radius are approximately the same number of times greater.

The White Swan took off on its first flight on December 18, 1981; the vehicle was put into service in 1987. A total of 35 Tu-160s were produced during serial production, because these aircraft are not very cheap. The cost of one bomber in 1993 prices was 250 million US dollars.

The Tu-160 bomber can be called the real pride of Russian military aviation. Today, the White Swan is the heaviest and largest combat aircraft in the world. Each Tu-160 has given name. They are named after famous pilots, heroes, aircraft designers or athletes.

At the beginning of 2015, Sergei Shoigu announced plans to resume production of the Tu-160 aircraft. It is planned that the first vehicle will be transferred to the Russian Aerospace Forces in the next decade. Today included military space forces Russia has 16 Tu-160s.

History of creation

In the 60s of the last century, the Soviet Union actively invested in the creation of intercontinental ballistic missiles, paying virtually no attention to strategic aviation. The result of this policy was that the USSR noticeably lagged behind its potential enemy: by the early 70s, the Soviet Air Force was armed only with outdated Tu-95 and M-4 aircraft, which had virtually no chance of overcoming a serious air defense system.

Around the same time, work was in full swing in the United States on the creation of a new strategic bomber (AMSA project). Not wanting to concede to the West in anything, the USSR decided to create a similar machine. The corresponding resolution of the Council of Ministers was published in 1967.

The military put forward very stringent requirements for the future vehicle:

The aircraft's flight range at an altitude of 18 thousand meters and at a speed of 2.2-2.5 thousand km/h should have been 11-13 thousand km;
The bomber had to be able to approach the target at subsonic speed, and then overcome the enemy's air defense line at cruising speed close to the ground or at high altitude at supersonic speed;
The bomber's flight range in subsonic mode was supposed to be 11-13 thousand km near the ground and 16-18 thousand km at high altitude;
The combat load weight is about 45 tons.

Initially, the Myasishchev Design Bureau and the Sukhoi Design Bureau took part in the development of the new bomber. Tupolev's design bureau was not involved in the project. Most often, the reason for this is said to be the excessive workload of Tupolev’s team, but there is another version: at that time, the relationship between Andrei Tupolev and the country’s top leadership was not in the best way, so his design bureau was in a certain disgrace. One way or another, initially the Tupolevites did not take part in the development of the new machine.

The Sukhoi Design Bureau presented the commission with a preliminary design of the T-4MS aircraft (“product 200”). In the course of work on this machine, the designers used the huge reserve obtained in the process of creating the unique T-4 aircraft (“product 100”). Many options for the layout of the future bomber were worked out, but in the end the designers settled on the “flying wing” design. To achieve the performance characteristics required by the customer, the wing had a variable sweep (rotating consoles).

Having carefully studied the military's requirements for a future attack aircraft and conducted numerous studies, the Myasishchev Design Bureau also came up with a variant of the aircraft with variable wing geometry. However, unlike their opponents, the bureau's designers proposed using a traditional aircraft layout. Since 1968, the Myasishchev Design Bureau has been working on the creation of a multi-mode heavy missile-carrying aircraft (“topic 20”), designed to solve three various tasks. Accordingly, three modifications of the machine were developed.

The first version was conceived as an aircraft for launching nuclear strikes on enemy strategic targets, the second modification was conceived to destroy enemy transoceanic transports, and the third - to detect and destroy strategic submarines in remote areas of the World Ocean.

Having experience working on “topic 20” behind them, the designers of the Myasishchev Design Bureau “issued” a project for the M-18 heavy bomber. The layout of this aircraft largely repeated the outlines of the American B-1 and, perhaps, that is why it was considered the most promising.

In 1969, the military put forward new requirements for a promising aircraft, and only from that moment did the Tupolev Design Bureau (MMZ “Experience”) join the project. The Tupolev team had significant experience in developing heavy supersonic aircraft; it was in this design bureau that the Tu-144 was created - the beauty and pride of Soviet passenger aviation. Previously, Tu-22 and Tu-22M bombers were built here. The Tupolev Design Bureau joined the development of a promising jet bomber back in the late 60s, but initially their project was considered out of competition. The Tupolev team developed the future bomber on the basis of the passenger Tu-144.

In 1972, a presentation of projects took place; three design bureaus took part in it: Myasishchev, Sukhoi and Tupolev. Sukhoi’s plane was rejected almost immediately – the idea of using a “flying wing” as a supersonic strategic bomber looked too unusual and futuristic in those years. The receivers liked the Myasishchevsky M-18 much more; moreover, it almost completely corresponded to the characteristics declared by the military. The Tupolev vehicle did not receive support “due to non-compliance with specified requirements.”

In numerous materials and publications dedicated to this truly historic competition, employees of the Myasishchev Design Bureau invariably call themselves the official winners. However, the truth is that the commission did not call it that, limiting itself to only some recommendations on the further continuation of work. Based on them, appropriate conclusions were drawn, and soon a resolution of the country's Council of Ministers appeared, which prescribed that the bomber project would be completed at the Tupolev Design Bureau. The fact was that Myasishchev’s design bureau at that time simply did not have the necessary scientific and production base to complete the work. In addition, the significant experience that the Tupolev team had in creating heavy supersonic aircraft was taken into account. One way or another, all the developments made by the competitors earlier were transferred to the Tupolev Design Bureau.

After 1972, work began on fine-tuning the future Tu-160: the design of the aircraft was worked out, new solutions for the machine’s power plant were searched for, optimal materials were selected, and on-board equipment systems were created. The project was so complex and large-scale that it was under the control of the Minister of Aviation Industry, and his deputies coordinated the work. More than 800 Soviet enterprises were involved in its implementation to one degree or another.

The first flight of the prototype took place on December 18, 1981, on the eve of the anniversary of Soviet Secretary General Brezhnev. In total, three aircraft were built at MMZ “Experience” for testing. The second prototype took off only in 1984. American space reconnaissance almost immediately “detected” the start of testing of the new Soviet bomber and monitored the progress of the tests continuously. The future missile carrier received the NATO designation RAM-P, and later its own name - Blackjack. Soon the first photos of the Soviet “strategist” appeared in the Western press.

In 1984, serial production of the White Swans was launched at the Kazan Aviation Plant. On October 10, 1984, the first production aircraft took off. IN next year The second and third cars took off, and in 1986, the fourth. Until 1992, 35 Tu-160 aircraft were manufactured.

Production and operation

The first two Tu-160s were transferred to the Soviet Air Force in 1987.

In 1992, Russia was going through difficult times of economic crisis. There was no money in the budget, but a lot of it was needed to produce the Tu-160. Therefore the first Russian President Boris Yeltsin suggested that the United States stop producing White Swans if the Americans abandon production of the B-2.

At the time of the collapse of the USSR, 19 Tu-160s were on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR (Pryluki). Independent Ukraine, which renounced nuclear weapons, had absolutely no need for these planes. At the end of the 90s, eight Ukrainian Tu-160 bombers were transferred to Russia to pay off the energy debt, and the rest were sawn into metal.

In 2002 Russian ministry Defense concluded a contract with KAPO for the modernization of all bombers in service.

In 2003, one of the Tu-160s crashed in the Saratov region, killing the crew.

During an exercise that took place in 2006, a group of Tu-160s were able to enter US airspace undetected. Later, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Long-Range Aviation, Khvorov, told reporters about this, but there was no further confirmation of this fact.

In 2006, the first modernized Tu-160 was adopted by the Russian Air Force. A year later, regular flights of Russian strategic aviation to remote areas began, and “White Swans” took (and still take) part in them.

In 2008, two Tu-160s flew to Venezuela; an airfield in the Murmansk region was used as a jump-off airfield. The flight took 13 hours. On the way back, overnight in-flight refueling was successfully carried out.

At the beginning of 2017, the Russian Aerospace Forces included 16 Tu-160 aircraft. In August 2016, the newest modification of the missile carrier, the Tu-160M, was shown to the public. A little later, the Kazan Aviation Plant reported on the beginning of the revival of the basic technologies that are necessary to resume production of the Tu-160. It is planned to begin by 2023.

Design Features

The Tu-160 bomber is made according to a normal aerodynamic design; it is an integral low-wing aircraft with an all-moving fin and stabilizer. The main “highlight” of the aircraft is its wing with a variable sweep angle, and its center section, together with the fuselage, forms a single integral structure. This allows the most efficient use of internal volumes to accommodate equipment, weapons and fuel. The aircraft has a tricycle landing gear.

For the most part, the airframe of the aircraft is made of aluminum alloys, the share of titanium alloys is approximately 20%, used in the design and composite materials. Technologically, the airframe consists of six parts.

The central integral part of the vehicle includes the fuselage itself with a cockpit and two cargo compartments, a center section beam, a fixed part of the wing, engine nacelles and the rear fuselage.

The nose of the aircraft houses the radar antenna and other radio equipment, followed by a pressurized flight deck.

The Tu-160 crew consists of four people. Each of them is equipped with a K-36DM ejection seat, which allows them to escape from an emergency aircraft at the entire altitude range. Moreover, to improve performance, these chairs are equipped with special massage pillows. The cabin has a toilet, kitchen and one berth for rest.

Directly behind the cockpit there are two weapons compartments in which the suspension units are located. various means lesions, as well as equipment for lifting them. There are also mechanisms for controlling the doors. The center section beam runs between the weapons compartments.

Fuel tanks are located in the buoyant and tail sections of the bomber. Their total capacity is 171 thousand liters. Each engine receives fuel from its own tank. The Tu-160 is equipped with an in-flight refueling system.

The low wing of the Tu-160 has a significant aspect ratio and a large root overhang. However, the main feature of an aircraft wing is that it can change its sweep (from 20 to 65 degrees along the leading edge), adapting to a specific flight mode. The wing has a caisson structure; its mechanization includes slats, double-slotted flaps, flaperons and spoilers.

The bomber has a tricycle landing gear, with a steerable front and two main struts.

The vehicle's power plant consists of four NK-32 engines, each of which can develop a thrust of 25 kgf in afterburner mode. This allows the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 2200 km/h. The engines are located in twin engine nacelles located under the wings of the aircraft. The air intakes have rectangular section with a vertical wedge are placed under the wing swells.

Armament

Despite all my external beauty and grace, the Tu-160 is, first of all, a formidable military weapon, which is quite capable of causing a small Armageddon on the other side of the world.

Initially, the White Swan was conceived as a “pure” missile carrier, so the most powerful weapon of the aircraft is the X-55 strategic cruise missiles. Although they have subsonic speed, they fly at extremely low altitudes, bending around the terrain, which makes intercepting them very difficult. The X-55 is capable of delivering a nuclear charge over a distance of 3 thousand km. The Tu-160 can carry up to 12 such missiles.

The X-15 missiles are designed to hit targets at shorter distances. These are hypersonic missiles that, after launch, move along an aeroballistic trajectory, entering the stratosphere (altitude up to 40 km). Each bomber can carry up to 24 such missiles.

The cargo compartments of the Tu-160 can also accept conventional bombs, so the White Swan can also be used as a conventional bomber, although, of course, this is not its main purpose.

In the future, they plan to arm the Tu-160 with promising cruise missiles Kh-555 and Kh-101. They have a long range and can be used to hit both strategic and tactical targets.

Comparison of Tu-160 and V-1

The Tu-160 is the Soviet response to the American creation of the B-1 Lancer bomber. We really like to compare these two aircraft, because the Soviet “strategist” is significantly superior to the American in almost all the main characteristics.

Let's start with the fact that the White Swan is significantly larger than its opponent: the wingspan of the B-1B is 41 meters, and that of the Tu-160 is more than 55 meters. The maximum take-off weight of the Soviet bomber was 275 thousand kg, and the American one was 216 thousand kg. Accordingly, the combat load of the Tu-160 is 45 tons, and that of the B-1B is only 34 tons. And the flight range of the Soviet “strategist” is almost one and a half times higher.

The White Swan can reach a speed of 2,200 km/h, which allows it to confidently evade fighters; the maximum speed of the B-1B does not exceed 1,500 km/h.

However, when comparing the characteristics of these two aircraft, one should not forget that the B-1 was originally conceived as simply a long-range bomber, and the Tu-160 was designed as a strategic bomber and “aircraft carrier killer.” In the USA, this role is mainly performed by missile-carrying submarines, and they do not need to destroy enemy aircraft-carrying groups because complete absence such.

In the 60s of the last century, the Soviet Union focused on the development of missile weapons, and strategic aviation, represented by Tu-95 and M-4 with subsonic speeds, was considered unable to overcome the air defense of NATO countries.

The US decision to create a new strategic supersonic bomber B-1 prompted the USSR leadership to take adequate response measures. The Council of Ministers decided to begin preparing a project for a modern intercontinental strategic supersonic aircraft, which later received the designation TU-160, and among the pilots it had the affectionate name “White Swan”.

History of the project to create the Tu 160 aircraft

The creation of a project for a new bomber was entrusted to the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau. By the beginning of the 70s, projects were submitted for consideration. Both projects turned out to be similar - it is a supersonic vehicle with four engines and a wing with variable sweep, but the designs were still different.

In 1969, the Tupolev Design Bureau with experience in creating supersonic aircraft joined the project. passenger plane Tu-144. Having considered the projects of the Sukhoi and Myasishchev Design Bureaus and the out-of-competition project of the Tupolev Design Bureau, it was decided to give work on the project to the Tupolev team, as they have extensive experience in creating supersonic machines.

In addition to the Tupolev Design Bureau, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, the Air Force Research Institute, and TsAGI were involved; in total, since 1972, more than 800 organizations have participated.
The first prototype (designation 70-01) took off from the ground in December 1981 with a crew led by test pilot B. Veremey from the Ramenskoye airfield. The second sample was intended for static tests. The first four samples were manufactured at the Opyt enterprise.

Tu 160 diagram

Serial aircraft were manufactured at the Kazan Aviation Plant. In 1984, on October 10, the series was given a ticket to the sky.

Description of the Tu 160 aircraft

The design of the vehicle is based on an integral aerodynamic layout with a low-mounted wing with sweep that changes in flight. The sweep can be changed from 200 to 650.
The wing is equipped with rich mechanization - there are slats along the entire length on each console, and flaps at the rear. In front of the flaps, a flaperon and an interceptor were built into the console design.

The radio-transparent antenna radome hides the on-board radar for viewing the front sphere inside. In the space between the pilot's cabin and the surveillance locator blocks there is a Sopka radar, designed for low-altitude flights around the terrain.

The crew cabin is designed for four members - two pilots and two navigators, who sit side by side. The first navigator is responsible for aircraft navigation, the other for the use of weapons. The seats are equipped with a catapult.

Under the influx of the wing in front there are multi-mode air intakes that regulate the incoming air flow and supply it to the engines. The cross-section of the intake channels changes, from rectangular to round. The power plant consists of four NK-32 turbofan engines, two located on each side of the fuselage.

The fin of the Tu-160 is made of two sections, the fuselage body is rigidly connected to the lower part, and the upper trapezoidal section serves as a rudder. The rotation mechanism and the rotation stabilizer itself are attached to the fixed part of the keel.

The landing gear of the aircraft is made according to a three-legged design, the main landing gear on each leg has six wheels that retract into a niche in the center section between the air intakes and the weapons compartment. The nose landing gear is two-wheeled and, in the retracted position, is located between the weapons compartment and the cockpit.

The design of the aircraft allows 171 tons of fuel to be placed in 13 caisson tanks, which at cruising speed with a sweep of 350 makes it possible to cover a distance of 14 thousand km. In-flight refueling is also provided - the fuel receiver in the form of a retractable boom is located in the bow, in front of the cockpit.

Tu 160 in the air

To fulfill its purpose - to break through enemy air defenses and strike important strategic targets, it is equipped with the Baikal airborne defense complex. This complex includes stations for detecting threats from aviation and air defense systems, electronic warfare stations and automatic devices for shooting decoys and decoys.

At the bottom of the nose of the aircraft there is an OPB-15T optical-electronic sight for precise bombing and a television camera in the front lower sphere. An inertial navigation system, a celestial navigation system and satellite tracking system equipment allow for high-precision flights with the aircraft's location displayed on the navigator's indicators.

Tactical and technical data of the Tu 160 bomber

Tu 160 "White Swan"

Flight characteristics of Tu 160

Maximum speed at an altitude of 12 thousand. m – 2200 km/h.
The maximum speed at the ground is 1030 km/h.
Cruising speed – 850-920 km/h.
Rate of climb – 70 m/sec.
Practical range without refueling is 14 thousand km.
Ceiling – 15600 m.
Combat radius - 7300 km.
Flight duration is 14.5 hours.

Power plant of the Tu 160 aircraft

Four NK-32 turbofan engines with cruising thrust of 137.2 kN.
afterburner - 245.7 kN.

Dimensions of the Tu 160 aircraft

The length of the aircraft is 54.10 m.
The height of the aircraft is 13.10 m.
Wing span, sweep 200 – 55.7 m.
Wing span, sweep 350 - 50.7 m.
Wing span, sweep 650 - 35.6 m.

Weight of the Tu 160 aircraft

Empty, equipped aircraft - 117 tons.
Take-off maximum – 225 tons.

Armament of the Tu 160 aircraft

On installation drum type– 6 ALCM X-55SM/101/102.
Kh-15 short-range missiles – 12 pcs.

Interesting information about the Tu 160 strategic bomber

Forty-four world records are registered on the account of the White Swan.

Each board is named after an outstanding designer or famous pilot.

Tu 160 "Valentin Bliznyuk"

Only this strategic bomber can boast its own kitchen and bathroom; before it, military aircraft were not equipped with such amenities.

NATO called it “Dubinka”, and Russian pilots affectionately called it “White Swan”.

In the world, this is perhaps the largest aircraft with a variable sweep wing.

While on a visit to Russia, Frank Carpucci, the then US Secretary of Defense, inspected the pilot's cockpit and hit his head on an electrical panel. Since then, pilots have nicknamed it “Carpucci’s shield.”

Video: p launching cruise missiles at terrorist targets in Syria from a Tu 160

Supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber with variable wing geometry. Designed to destroy the most important targets with nuclear and conventional weapons in remote military-geographical areas and in the deep rear of continental theaters of military operations. Chief designer - Valentin Bliznyuk. The vehicle made its first flight on December 18, 1981, and was adopted by the USSR Air Force in 1987. Maximum speed - 2 thousand km/h, practical range - 12 thousand 300 km, service ceiling - 21 thousand m. Crew - 4 people . Armament: up to 12 cruise missiles or up to 40 tons of air bombs. Flight duration is up to 15 hours (without refueling). At least 15 aircraft of this type are in service with the long-range aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces. By 2020, ten modernized Tu-160M aircraft are expected to arrive.

Work on the creation of the TU-160 "White Swan" aircraft, a missile-carrying supersonic long-range bomber, began in 1968 at the A.N. Tupolev Design Bureau. And in 1972, a preliminary design of such an aircraft with a wing of variable geometry was made. In 1976, the Tu-160 model project was approved by the commission. The NK-32 engine was developed specifically for this aircraft model by the Design Bureau named after. Kuznetsov in 1977.

Tu-160 Photo

According to NATO classification, these strategic bombers are called “Black Jack”, and in American slang they are called “bludgeon” (Black Jack - to beat with a baton). But our pilots called them “White Swans” - and this is very similar to the truth. Supersonic Tu-160s are beautiful and graceful, even with formidable weapons and amazing power. The weapons chosen for them were Kh-55 - subsonic small-sized cruise missiles and Kh-15 - aeroballistic missiles, which were placed on multi-position installations under the wings.
The Tu-160 mock-up was approved at the end of 1977, and the experimental manufacturing enterprise MMZ "Experience" (in Moscow) began assembling three prototype aircraft. Kazan production manufactured the fuselages, the wing and stabilizer were made in Novosibirsk, the cargo compartment doors were made in Voronezh, and the landing gear supports were made in the city of Gorky. The assembly of the first machine “70-01” was completed in January 1981 in Zhukovsky.

The Tu-160 with serial "70-01" was first tested in the air in 1981 on December 18. During state tests, which ended in mid-1989, the Tu-160 aircraft fired four Kh-55 cruise missiles as the main armament of the aircraft. The maximum speed of the aircraft during horizontal flight was 2200 km/h. This speed for operation was limited to 2000 km/h - this was introduced due to the condition of the resource limit. Many Tu-160s were given personal names, like warships. The first Tu-160 was named “Ilya Muromets”.

Tu-160 crew: 4 people.
Engines: (turbine) four NK - 32 TRDDF 4x14,000/25,000 kgf (thrust: working / afterburner).
The unit is three-shaft, dual-circuit, with an afterburner. It is started by an air starter.
Behind the left support of the main landing gear is the APU - an electrical engine control system with hydromechanical duplication
.Weight and loads: normal take-off - 267600 kg, empty aircraft - 110000 kg, maximum combat - 40000 kg, fuel - 148000 kg.
Flight data: 2000 km/h - flight speed at altitude, 1030 km/h - flight near the ground, from 260 to 300 km/h - landing speed, 16000 m - flight ceiling, 13200 km - practical range, 10500 km - duration flight at maximum load.

Salon

Tu-160 is one of the USSR combat aircraft, which the press learned about before its construction, several years ago. In 1981, on November 25, the aircraft was prepared for testing in the town of Zhukovsky (Ramensky) near Moscow. The car was parked alongside two Tu-144s and was photographed by a passenger from a plane landing at the nearby Bykovo airfield. From that moment on, the bomber received its nickname “Ram-P” (Ram - from Ramenskoye) and the NATO code - “Black Jack”. With this name, the heaviest bomb carrier of all time was presented to the world.
At the negotiations on SALT-2 in the 70s of the last century, L.I. Brezhnev said that, in contrast to the American B-1, a new strategic bomber was being designed in the USSR. The press mentioned that it would be produced at a plant in Kazan. What about today?
During the collapse of the USSR, Tu-160s were distributed among the republics. 19 of them went to Ukraine, the air regiment in Priluki. Eight were transferred to pay off gas debts to Russia, and the rest were simply cut up. In Poltava you can visit the last Ukrainian “swan”, turned into a museum.

Tu-160V (Tu-161) is a missile carrier project that includes a power plant that runs on liquid hydrogen. Taking into account the peculiarities of the fuel system, it differs from the basic version in the dimensions of the fuselage. Liquefied hydrogen, which was used in engine units as fuel, was reserved at temperatures down to -253 °C. It is additionally equipped with a helium system, which is responsible for controlling cryogenic engines, and a nitrogen system, which controls the vacuum in the thermal insulation cavities of the aircraft.

Tu-160 NK-74 is a modification of the Tu-160, which contains more economical bypass turbojet engines with an NK-74 afterburner. These power plants were assembled to order in Samara at SNTK im. N.D. Kuznetsova. The use of these aircraft engines made it possible to increase the flight range parameter.
Tu-160P is a modification that is a heavy long-range escort fighter that could carry medium- and long-range air-to-air missiles on board.
Tu-160PP - electronic warfare aircraft project. On this moment There is only a full-size model; the characteristics of the new aircraft and the composition of the equipment have been determined.
Tu-160K is a project of an aircraft that is part of the Krechet aviation and missile complex. Brought to the stage of a finished preliminary design at the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. The chief designer was V.F. Utkin. Work on the ARK "Krechet" was carried out in 1983-1984. in order to increase the efficiency and survivability of ballistic missiles during a nuclear explosion and to test the energy functionality of the carrier aircraft. Armed with the Krechet-R missile.

This is a two-stage small-sized ICBM of the 4th generation. It was equipped with sustainer solid fuel engines running on mixed fuel. In flight mode, liquid monopropellant was used. The carrying capacity of the Tu-160K carrier aircraft was 50 tons. This meant that the modification could carry on board two Krechet-R ICBMs weighing 24.4 tons each. Taking into account the flight range of the Tu-160K aircraft, its effective application was up to 10 thousand km away.
At the project stage, the development of ground equipment for coordinating the actions of the aircraft was completed in December 1984.
The Krechet-R missile control system is autonomous, inertial, and connected to external information sources. The coordinates and speed of the rocket were received on board the aircraft from a satellite, and the position angles of the command instruments were specified from the astrocorrector. The first stage of controls is the aerodynamic rudders, the second is the control rotary nozzle. The ICBMs were planned to be equipped with separating warheads with individual guidance and warheads, which were intended to break through enemy missile defense. Work on the ARK "Krechet" was curtailed in the mid-80s of the twentieth century.

Tu-160SK is an aircraft that was intended to carry a three-stage Burlak liquid system, the mass of which was 20 tons. According to the designers’ calculations, up to 600-1100 kg of cargo could be launched into orbit, and delivery would cost 2-2.5 times cheaper , rather than using launch vehicles with a similar payload capacity. The missile launch from the Tu-160SK should take place at altitudes of 9000-14,000 m at an aircraft speed of 850 to 1600 km/h. The characteristics of the Burlak complex were supposed to be superior to the American analogue of the subsonic launch complex, the carrier of which was the Boeing B-52, equipped with a Pegasus launch vehicle. The purpose of "Burlak" is a constellation of satellites in the event of mass destruction of airfields. Development of the complex began in 1991, commissioning was planned in 1998-2000. The complex also had to include a ground service station and a command and measurement point. The flight range of the Tu-160KS to the launch site of the launch vehicle was 5000 km. 01/19/2000 signed between the aerospace corporation “Air Launch” and “TsSKB-Progress” in Samara regulations on cooperation towards the creation of the Air Launch aerial missile complex.
Tu-160M is the latest modernization of the Tu-160 aircraft. It includes new weapons and electronic equipment. It can carry on board up to 90 OFAB-500U weighing 500 kg each. According to experts, the Russian missile-carrying bomber is in many respects ahead of its British counterpart, the Typhoon fighter. The flight range of the domestic aircraft without refueling is 4 times greater than that of the British aircraft. The Tu-160M is also capable of carrying more nuclear-free missiles and bombs and has better engine efficiency.

Immediately after the end of World War II, a radical redistribution of spheres of influence occurred in the world. In the 50s of the last century, two military blocs were formed: NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries, which in all subsequent years were in a state of constant confrontation. " Cold War", which unfolded at that time, could at any moment develop into an open conflict, which would certainly end in a nuclear war.

Decline of the industry

Of course, in such conditions an arms race could not help but begin, when none of the rivals could afford to fall behind. In the early 60s Soviet Union managed to take the lead in the field of strategic missile weapons, while the United States was clearly in the lead in the quantity and quality of aircraft. Military parity arose.

The arrival of Khrushchev further aggravated the situation. He was so keen on rocket technology that he killed many promising ideas in the field of cannon artillery and strategic bombers. Khrushchev believed that the USSR did not really need them. As a result, by the 70s a situation developed where we only had old T-95s and some other vehicles. These aircraft, even hypothetically, could not overcome the developed air defense system of a potential enemy.

Why are strategic missile carriers needed?

Of course, the presence of a powerful nuclear arsenal in the missile version was a sufficient guarantee of peace, but it was impossible to launch a warning strike or simply “hint” to the enemy about the undesirability of subsequent actions with its help.

The situation was so serious that the country's leadership finally realized the need to develop a new strategic bomber. This is how the story of the famous TU-160 began, specifications which are described in this article.

Developers

Initially, all work was assigned to the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Myasishchev Design Bureau. Why is the legendary Tupolev not on this short list? It's simple: the management of the enterprise was not happy with Khrushchev, who had already managed to ruin several promising projects. Accordingly, Nikita Sergeevich himself also did not treat the “willful” designer very well. In a word, the Tupolev Design Bureau turned out to be “out of business.”

By the beginning of the 70s of the last century, all competitors presented their projects. Sukhoi put the M-4 on display. The car was impressive, amazing with its characteristics. The only drawback was the cost: after all, an all-titanium case cannot be made cheap no matter how much you try. The Myasishchev Design Bureau presented its M-18. For unknown reasons, Tupolev’s bureau with “Project 70” got involved.

Winner of competition

As a result, they chose the Sukhoi option. Myasishchev’s project was somehow unsightly, and Tupolev’s design seemed like a slightly modified civilian aircraft. And how then did the characteristics appear whose characteristics still make a potential enemy tremble? This is where the fun begins.

Since the Sukhoi Design Bureau simply had no time to deal with a new project (the Su-27 was being created there), and the Myasishchev Design Bureau was removed for some reason (there are a lot of ambiguities here), the papers on the M-4 were handed over to Tupolev. But they also didn’t appreciate the titanium case and turned their attention to an outsider - the M-18 project. It was this that formed the basis for the design of the “White Swan”. By the way, the supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber with a variable-sweep wing, according to NATO codification, has a completely different name - Blackjack.

Main technical characteristics

And yet, why is the TU-160 so famous? The technical characteristics of this aircraft are so amazing that even today the car does not look “antique” in the slightest degree. We have provided all the main data in the table, so you can see for yourself.

Characteristic name	Meaning
Full wingspan (at two points), meters
Fuselage length, meters
Fuselage height, meters
Total load-bearing area of the wings, square meters
Empty vehicle weight, tons
Fuel weight (full filling), tons
Total take-off weight, tons
Engine model	TRDDF NK-32
Maximum thrust value (afterburning/non-afterburning)	4x137.2 kN/ 4x245 kN
Speed ceiling, km/h
Landing speed, km/h
Maximum altitude, kilometers
Maximum flight range, kilometers
Range of action, kilometers
Required runway length, meters
Maximum mass of missile and bomb weapons, tons

It is not surprising that the very appearance of the characteristics described in the article became a very unpleasant surprise for many Western powers. This aircraft (subject to refueling) will be able to “delight” almost any country with its appearance. By the way, some foreign publishing houses call the car D-160. Technical characteristics are good, but what exactly is the White Swan armed with? After all, it wasn’t created for pleasure walks?!

Information about missile and bomb weapons

The standard weight of weapons that can be placed in compartments inside the fuselage is 22,500 kilograms. IN exceptional cases it is allowed to increase these figures to 40 tons (this is the figure indicated in the table). The weapons include two launchers (launchers of the type that can contain continental and strategic missiles KR Kh-55 and Kh-55M. The other two drum launchers have 12 aeroballistic missiles Kh-15 (M = 5.0).

Thus, the tactical and technical characteristics of the TU-160 aircraft suggest that after modernization, these machines will be in service with our army for many more decades.

It is allowed to load missiles with nuclear and non-nuclear warheads, KAB of all kinds (up to KAB-1500). Bomb bays can accommodate conventional and nuclear bombs, as well as various types of mines. Important! A Burlak launch vehicle can be installed under the fuselage, which is used to launch light satellites into orbit. Thus, the TU-160 aircraft is a real “flying fortress”, armed in such a way that it can destroy a couple of medium-sized countries in one flight.

Power point

Now let’s remember what distances this car can cover. In this regard, the question immediately arises about the engines, thanks to which the characteristics of the TU-160 are known throughout the world. The strategic bomber became a unique phenomenon in this regard, since the development of its power plant was carried out by a completely different design bureau, which was responsible for the design of the aircraft.

Initially, it was planned to use NK-25 as engines, almost completely identical to those that they wanted to install on the Tu-22MZ. Their traction performance characteristics were quite satisfactory, but something had to be done with fuel consumption, since one could not even dream of any intercontinental flights with such an “appetite.” How were the high technical characteristics of the TU-160 missile carrier achieved, thanks to which it is still considered one of the best combat vehicles in the world?

Where did the new engine come from?

Just at that time, the Design Bureau, headed by N.D. Kuznetsov, began designing a fundamentally new NK-32 (it was created on the basis of the already well-proven models HK-144, HK-144A). In contrast, the new power plant was supposed to consume significantly less fuel. In addition, it was planned that some of the important structural components would be taken from the NK-25 engine, which would reduce the cost of production.

Here it is necessary to especially note the fact that the plane itself is not cheap. Currently, the cost of one unit is estimated at 7.5 billion rubles. Accordingly, at the time when this promising car was just being created, it cost even more. That is why only 32 aircraft were built, and each of them had its own name, and not just a tail number.

Tupolev specialists immediately jumped at this opportunity, as it saved them from many problems that arose in many cases when trying to modify the engine from the old Tu-144. Thus, the situation was resolved to everyone’s benefit: the TU-160 aircraft received an excellent power plant, and the Kuznetsov Design Bureau received valuable experience. Tupolev himself received more time, which could have been spent on developing other important systems.

Fuselage base

Unlike many other structural parts, the White Swan wing came from the Tu-22M. Almost all parts are absolutely similar in design, the only difference is more powerful drives. Let's consider special cases that distinguish the TU-160 aircraft. The technical characteristics of the spars are unique in that they were assembled from seven monolithic panels at once, which were then hung on the nodes of the center section beam. Actually, the entire remaining fuselage was “built up” around this entire structure.

The central beam is made of pure titanium, since only this material can withstand the loads that a unique aircraft is subjected to during flight. By the way, for its production, the technology of electron beam welding in a neutral gas environment was specially developed, which is still an extremely complex and expensive process even without taking into account the titanium used.

Wings

Developing a wing with variable geometry for a vehicle of this size and weight turned out to be a very non-trivial task. The difficulties began with the fact that to create it it was necessary to radically change almost the entire production technology. State program, launched specifically for this purpose, was led by P.V. Dementyev.

In order for sufficient lift, a rather ingenious design was used. The main element was the so-called “combs”. This was the name for the parts of the flaps that could be deflected, if necessary, helping the aircraft acquire full sweep. In addition, if the wing geometry changed, it was the “ridges” that formed smooth transitions between the fuselage elements, reducing air resistance.

So the TU-160 aircraft, whose tactical and technical characteristics continue to amaze to this day, largely owes its speed to these very details.

Tail stabilizers

As for the tail stabilizers, in the final version the designers decided to use a design with a two-section fin. The base is the lower, stationary part, to which the stabilizer is attached directly. The peculiarity of this design is that its top is made completely motionless. Why was this done? And in order to somehow mark out electric hydraulic boosters, as well as drives for deflectable parts of the tail unit, in an extremely limited space.

This is how the Tu-160 (Blackjack) appeared. The description and technical characteristics give a pretty good idea of this unique machine, which was actually several years ahead of its time. Today, these aircraft are being modernized according to a special program: most of the outdated electronic equipment, navigation systems and weapons are being replaced. In addition, it increases